As the official story goes, a boy by the name of Henry used to frequently visit the Williamson Candy Store in Chicago. He would flirt with the girls that worked there who would respond with “Oh, Henry!” Later when Mr. Williamson needed a name for a new candy bar, he remembered the remarks and the rest was history. Or was it? Continue reading...

Those wacky inventors over at the Willy Wonka factory have introduced plenty of innovative confections over the years, from the Everlasting Gobstopper to the Wonka Bar. But one of their most popular creations over the past few decades are Runts. If the name doesn't ring a bell, you likely remember the small, realistically-shaped, fruit flavored candies that are not only sold in the candy aisle, but also countless gumball-type vending machines around the world. Continue reading...

Who says a candy bar must contain chocolate? Certainly that is the norm, but a few products have managed to leave the cocoa behind and still carve a niche for themselves in the market. One such candy bar is the often-hard-to-find but search-worthy Zagnut bar. Assuming one has no allergies to peanuts or coconut, it is a flavorful and unique treat that has managed to stay above water, despite its chocolate-laden competition, for almost eighty years. Continue reading...

Chicago has long held a reputation as the candy capitol of the United States. And, in 1924, the Schutter-Johnson Company launched a unique new chew to the windy city, one that would delight children and dentists alike. Christened as the Bit-O-Honey, it was guaranteed to give a kid’s jaw muscles a workout like no other. Continue reading...

For decade after decade, young fans of America’s favorite pastime watched their heroes stuff wads of chewing tobacco into their cheek, a particularly dangerous habit that most parents didn’t want their kids to emulate. In 1977, veteran ballplayer Jim Bouton was sitting in the dugout, watching the younger players follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and it occurred to him that someone ought to make a gum that looked like chewing tobacco, so that it might serve as a healthier alternative. The result was Big League Chew. Continue reading...

Some people prefer their gum in stick form. Others have grown accustomed to the slight crunch that a candy coating offers, as is commonly found in the typical gumball. Problem is, gumballs aren’t exactly the sort of thing that is easily carried in one’s pocket, unless you have an affinity for chewing lint. Continue reading...

For their considerably short existence, those little chewy candy squares known as Bonkers! made quite the impression. Some will remember their soft pliability, others their flavorful punch. And for anyone regularly watching television in the 80s, it was impossibly not to take notice of their humorous commercials that featured giant fruit dropping from the sky and landing on an unwitting bystander. Whatever the reason, they are a candy that remains sorely missed from legions of fans that still wonder whatever happened to their beloved Bonkers! Continue reading...

In 1921, the Curtiss Candy Company introduced a candy bar called the Baby Ruth, yet insisted that it had no connection to the reigning Sultan of Swat, Babe Ruth, who was the biggest sports hero in the nation at the time (lest they have to pay royalties). Instead, the company maintained that they named their product after President Grover Cleveland's young daughter Ruth. While the debate still continues in some circles, there was no similar ambiguity when another baseball legend, Yankee slugger Reggie Jackson, was honored with his own candy bar in 1978. Simply named Reggie!, and featuring a large likeness of the hitter on its bright orange wrapper, there was no doubt that Jackson officially sanctioned this candy treat. Continue reading...